Children Without Borders is proud to share this touching story of thankfulness.
Margarita came to Costa Rica 17 years ago in search of a better life. Her parents were murdered in the Nicaraguan wars when she was only nine and her older sisters raped and impregnated. She fled to Mexico as a refugee, but this was no safe haven, she too became a victim of violence and rape at the age of 18. One of the few bright spots in her life is her loving family, but times are tough for Margarita and her family, they live in close quarters with three of the children sharing one bed in the same room as Margarita and her husband. Margarita and her husband have lived without legal documents in Costa Rica for the past 17 years. Without legal papers they can't find good work; have no access to medical care and can't take advantage of any social programs.
It's a constant struggle for the family, who live off less than $80 a week, struggling to provide food for 5 children and 1 granddaughter. Margarita usually spends her mornings selling handmade children's pillows in the streets of San Jose, after closing up for the day she walked for two and half hours to the Children Without Borders clinic in Los Anonos. She did not know she would meet two angels that would change her life.
Children Without Borders’ Executive Committee members Steve Brown and Joe Kringdon visited Margarita that beautiful November afternoon and altered the course of her life forever. They pooled enough resources for Margarita to legalize her status in Costa Rica --$250. With those papers, she can access work, social services and healthcare for her and her family for the next five years. They completely transformed her life with that gift: turning her situation of day-to-day survival into one she can actually plan for the future. With the food they brought the day of their visit, she distributed among her neighbors. With the money for her immigration papers, she left immediately to get her papers renewed. She has dreams of transforming her life, her family and her neighborhood and Steve and Joe gave her a platform from which to start.
Children Without Borders wishes you and yours a wonderful holiday.
